X-ray apparatus



Nov. '7, 1950 H. A. SMITH 2,529,054

X-RAY APPARATUS Filed Dec. 11, 1946 TO TIMER FIG. 4

BUCKY CONTACT DEyIcE E TOR HAROLD A. SMITH MVZUMLQM/ AT TY.

Patented Nov. 7, 1950 UNITED X-RAY APPARATUS Harold A. Smith, Delavan, Wis., assignor to The George W. Borg Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application December 11, 1946, Serial No. 715,406

The present invention relates in general to X- ray apparatus, and more in particular to permanent or semi-permanent equipment installations which include a table having a Bucky diaphragm and a tube stand which is movable back and forth on tracks or rails extending parallel to the table. The object of the invention is a new and improved arrangement for aligning the Bucky diaphragm with the tube stand.

More in detail the invention provides an optical device associated with the Bucky diaphragm which is operated automatically when a switch in the Bucky diaphragm control circuit is closed to project a beam of light toward the tube stand. When the parts are in alignment the light beam impinges on some designated part of the tube stand or on a reference line or mark which may be provided and thus indicates the fact to the operator.

The invention is described fully in the specification which follows, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of an X-ray table and tube stand embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-section through the optical device on the line 22, Fig. 1;

lgig. 3 is a partial side view of the tube stand; an

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic circuit drawing show ing the arrangement for supplying current to the lamp in the optical device.

Referring to the drawings, the X-ray table may be of conventional construction and includes a rectangular frame, part of which is indicated at I0, which is supported on the base II by means of trunnions I2 and I3. Directly above the frame l and rigidl secured in spaced relation to it is another rectangular frame on which the Bakelite table top I 4 is supported. This second frame is constructed of U-shaped channels such as I5.

The Bucky diaphragm is of known construction and includes the frame It and the movable grid H. The frame I6 is supported on the side channel I and the opposite side channel by means of four brackets such as I8. The bracket I8 is shown in Fig. 2, and carries the ball bearing I9 and 20 which engage the lower'side member of channel l5 as shown, The brackets and the ball bearings carried thereby enable the Bucky dia- The tube carriage is adjustable The 2 is provided, which enables the tube stand to be locked in any desired position.

The parts mentioned up to this point are all of known construction and accordingly have not been described in detail.

The optical device which is provided in accordance with the invention includes a lamp 26, which may be a 6 volt lamp of the type used in automobile headlights. The lamp 26 has a socket 21 which is rigidly supported on the flanged cylindrical member 28, made of insulating material such as Bakelite. The member 28 is rotatably mounted on the cup shaped metal shell 29, Where it is secured by means of the corrugated split ring 3|. The shell 29 is attached to the frame It of the Bucky diaphragm by means of screws such as 30.

The optical device also includes the lens 32, mounted at the end of tubular lens holder 33. The latter fits over an annular projection on member 28, where it is held b friction.

The switch S, Fig. 4, is the Bucky timer switch, and is operated at times when an exposure is to .be made using the Bucky diaphragm. This switch effects a number of circuit changes which need not be described. It will sufiice to say that at contact 35 the switch extends one side of the alternating current supply line to the Bucky contact device 36, by means of which a connection is extended to the timer during movement of the grid. The primary winding 3! of the transformer 39 has one terminal connected to the switch contact 35, while the other terminal is connected to the other side of the supply line. The secondary winding 38 of the transformer supplies current to the lamp 215. Thus it will be seen that lamp 26 is lighted automatically whenever the switch S is operated preparatory to use of the Bucky diaphragm.

The lens 32 forms the light emitted by lamp 26' into a beam which is projected toward the tube stand, where it impinges on the column 22 when the X-ray tube is substantially in alignment with the center of the grid in the Bucky diaphragm. In explanation of this it may be pointed out that the optical device including lamp 26 is located opposite the center of the grid, while the X-ray tube is located opposite the column 22. To facilitate exact alignment of the parts a reference line 40 is preferabl provided on the column. 22.

The light beam is brought to a sharp focus on column 22 by adjusting the distance between the lamp 2B and the lens 32. The lens holder 33 is slidable on member 28 to permit such adjustment. Due to the shape of the filament of the lamp 26 an elongated image is produced, which can be adjusted to a vertical position by rotation of the member 28 relative to the shell 29. These adjustments can be made when the equipment is installed. The optical device will ordinarily require no further attention unless the lamp 26 should have to be replaced, in which case it may be necessary to re-focus the beam, or re-adjust the image for parallelism with reference line 40, or both.

The operation of the invention may now be explained. For this purpose it may be assumed that an X-ray picture is to be made, using the Bucky diaphragm, and that the patient is lying in a prone position on the table l4.

The operator may proceed by first adjusting the X-ray tube to the proper position directly above the part of the body which is to be photographed, which is accomplished by movement of the tube stand on the rails 23 and 24. When the adjustment has been made the tube stand is locked by means of the locking device 25. The Bucky timer switch is then operated, preparing certain circuits necessary to the exposure which is to be made and lighting the lamp 26. The optical device is thus made operative and projects a beam of light at right angles to theaxis of the table. The Bucky diaphragm is now adjusted lengthwise of the table until the light beam impinges on the reference line 40 on the column 22, indicating to the operator that the diaphragm is correctly aligned with the X-ray tube. If not already done, a film should now be inserted in the film carrier of the Bucky diaphragm and the grid should be moved to set position. timer and the exposure timer may now be adjusted whereupon the exposure is made by pressing a button which unlocks the grid. These operations are well understood and will require no further explanation.

It will be seen that the invention makes it possible to align the Bucky diaphragm and the X- ray tube with great facility as compared with the arrangement used heretofore, comprising a scale and pointer associated with the tube stand and another scale and pointer associated with the Bucky diaphragm. It will be noted that the in-' vention has been applied to X-ray equipment of the type in which the X-ray tube is positioned directly opposite the column in the tube stand. In a case when the X-ray tube is offset with respect to the column the location of the optical device can be shifted correspondingly, or a separate target can be provided on the tube stand, in proper alignment with the X-ray tube.

The invention having been described, that which is believed to be new and for which the protection of Letters Patent is desired will be pointed out in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an X-ray apparatus, a table, means supporting an X-ray tube for movement to various adjusted positions above said table, a Bucky diaphragm and means supporting it for movement to corresponding positions beneath said table, and

means for aligning said diaphragm with said tube.

comprising a target movable with said tube and an optical system movable with said diaphragm for projecting a light beam on said target, said optical system including a lamp, a lens for forming said beam from light emitted by said lamp,

and means for adjusting the distance between said lens and said lamp to focus said beam on The Bucky supporting an X-ray tube above said table, in-

cluding means whereby the tube may be moved to various adjusted positions intermediate the ends of the table, a Bucky diaphragm, means supporting said diaphragm for movement beneath the table to an adjusted position corresponding to any position of said tube, a light source, and means including said source for projecting a light beam between a point on said diaphragm and a corresponding point on said tube supporting means to indicate when the ad justment of the diaphragm is correct, said last meansincluding an optical device for converging the light from said source to form said beam as set forth.

4. In an X-ray apparatus, a table having a Bucky diaphragm, means supporting said diaphragm for movement to various adjusted positions beneath the table, means including a tube stand for supporting an X-ray tube for movement to corresponding adjusted positions above said table, means comprising a light source and a lens mounted on said diaphragm for projecting a light beam toward said tube stand, means independent of the positional relation between said tube and diaphragm for energizing said light source, and means included in said tube stand providing a reference point on which said beam impinges when the tube and diaphragm are correctly adjusted relative to each other.

5. In an X-ray apparatus, a table, means supporting an X-ray tube for movement to various adjusted positions above said table, a Bucky diaphragm and means for supporting it for movement to corresponding positions beneath said table, a timer circuit including a contact device in said diaphragm, an optical system including a light source for indicating when said diaphragm is properly adjusted relative to said tube, said optical system including means for forming the light from said source into abeam and for projecting said beam between points associated with said tube and said diaphragm, respectively, means including a switch for supplying current to said circuit for placing said diaphragm in operative condition for an exposure, and a circuit closed by said switch in all positions of said diaphragm for energizing said light source.

6. In an X-ray apparatus, a table, means supporting an X-ray tube for movement to various adjusted positions above said table, a film carrier, means supporting said carrier for independent movement to various adjusted positions beneath said table, and means for indicating the position of said carrier relative to that of said tube, comprising a target area bearing a reference mark, means for projecting a beam of light to said area, means for focusing said beam at said area to form a light spot thereon, and means responsive to relative movement of said carrier and tube for producing a corresponding relative movement between said light spot and reference mark.

HAROLD A. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Cox 1 Oct. 8, 1940 

